Microsoft Follows

Microsoft Corp. is preparing to officially release software that helps small companies do things like build a Web site and maintain business contacts, and plans to link the product to its platform for selling online advertising.

A free, ad-supported version of Office Live will give very small businesses the tools to create a Web site with a company domain name, plus 25 company-branded e-mail accounts. Microsoft will charge $19.95 or $39.95 per month for versions with more options for managing contacts and other business tasks.

All the versions also will include Microsoft Office Live adManager Beta, which small companies can use to buy ads that run alongside the regular results from Microsoft's Web search engine, Live Search.